Deployment, TDY, & PCS Orders

Penn State has policies in place to help support service members who receive deployment, temporary duty (TDY), or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders while they are enrolled in courses at Penn State. 

These policies deal with both short-term absences (two weeks or less) and long-term absences that are a result of military orders. The range of options these policies allow include making arrangements with the course instructor for short-term absences where the course requirements will allow the absence to a partial cancellation of the student’s semester course scheduled to a full academic withdrawal for the semester. Each situation is examined on a case-by-case basis and requires supporting documentation. 

These policies are designed to ensure that military students are not academically or financially penalized when certain aspects of their military service interrupt their ability to continue their academic pursuits. Some of these policies also apply to the service member’s spouse/partner. For more information on these specific policies, go to the Current Student page.